Month: December 2023

The year 2022 was a tragic time for many across the United States. On June 24,  after a long debate, it was finally decided for the Roe v. Wade to be overturned, leaving abortion rights not to the federal government, but to the states. Immediately, conservative states began to ban and restrict abortion, while others states kept the less restrictive laws that were put in place after the landmark Roe v Wade decision in 1973. Since Roe v. Wade has been overturned, The Guardian notes that “14 states have enacted near total abortion bans, while two states – Georgia and South Carolina – have banned abortion past roughly six weeks of pregnancy,” In the states that have new restrictions, it is still extremely hard to get a medically approved abortion. Because of the common six week ban, it is nearly impossible for women to figure out they are pregnant and get an abortion in time. There are very few exceptions and they are worded unclearly, causing doctors to be afraid to approve of lifesaving abortions. While the pro-life’s platform is understandable, the problem is that many states are going too far. 

In Texas, a woman needs an abortion because doctors warned the fetus will die immediately after birth and giving birth will likely harm her reproductive organs. Recently, the Texas Supreme Court and the Attorney General ruled against her, the lower courts order, and the doctor’s request, meaning the court will not hear cases like hers, putting many women at risk. In the end, she left the state to legally get an abortion which is also against Texas’ extremist law, however, not every woman can do the same. 

Pro-Choice and Pro-Life Americans have not always seen eye-to-eye, but many can agree that these bans are too extreme. In the Republican state of Ohio, voters chose to protect abortion in their state’s constitution demonstrating that most Americans support moderate and less restrictive laws. 

The polarization of Americans views on abortion and the overturning of Roe v Wade are making it hard for legislation protecting the right to abortion to pass. Hence, right now, the best thing we can do to protect women is to fight for abortion a constitutional right again. When looking at the Texas case and similar cases, it is evident that abortion bans are harming various people. Whether you are young or old, male or female, single or married, the bans are worrisome and reproductive rights are necessary to defend.

Work cited:

Sottile, Zoe, et al. “Here’s What We Know about a Texas Woman’s Battle for an Abortion.” CNN, 12 Dec. 2023, www.cnn.com/2023/12/11/us/kate-cox-abortion-law-texas-case/index.html.

Lerer, Lisa, and Katie Glueck. “Republicans Under Pressure as Anti-Abortion Activists Call for a National Ban.” New York Times, The New York Times, 20 Jan. 2023, www.nytimes.com/2023/01/20/us/politics/abortion-republicans-roe-v-wade.html.

“Roe v. Wade.” Oyez, www.oyez.org/cases/1971/70-18. Accessed 19 Dec. 2023.

Sherman, Carter, and Andrew Witherspoon. “Abortion Rights across the US: We Track Where Laws Stand in Every State.” The Guardian, The Guardian, 10 Nov. 2023, www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2023/nov/10/state-abortion-laws-us.

Klibanoff, Eleanor. “Texas Woman Blocked from Getting Emergency Abortion by Court Leaves State.” The Texas Tribune, 11 Dec. 2023, www.texastribune.org/2023/12/11/texas-abortion-lawsuit-kate-cox/.

“Ohio Votes in Favor of Amending the State Constitution to Enshrine Abortion Rights .” Npr, 7 Nov. 2023, www.npr.org/2023/11/07/1209092670/2023-results-key-ohio-elections.

2022 was a chaotic time. In a long-drawn battle, the Supreme Court has finally made their decision, and in the controversial case of Dabbs v. Jackson, the case of Roe v. Wade was overturned. This case split the country further, Democrat v. Republican, Pro-choice v. Pro-life. The issue? Whether abortion should be a constitutional right, as stated in the Roe v. Wade.

Immediately after the decisions, democratic states, especially in the south, started to pass laws restricting, and even banning abortions, with very limited exceptions. Places like Alabama, for example, has completely excluded abortion from it’s state constitution. There are unnecessary regulations enforced to shutter abortion clinics, and without basis in medical standards. While places that has lesser restrictions, and protected abortions, the abortion rates has actually increased. Abortion is an issue that affects people’s lives, whether personally or economically. If someone didn’t have the means to care for a child, but due to anti abortion laws, was forced to have them anyways, who would care for them? And economically, many studies have shown that abortion denial has prolonged financial distress. It has been shown throughout history, with more bans and restrictions, the more people will fight for more control. It is like a seesaw, too much extremism will cause the people to shift towards the other way. This was seen in Ohio, and Virginia, places thought of to be extreme in abortion restrictions. Hence perhaps the better question would be, at what stage would both parties be more favorable to agree? It is unlikely for Roe v. Wade to be brought back.

Unfortunately, in the current mindsets, it is extremely unlikely. Extremest agreed at 6 week bans, while some moderates put at 15. While most Democrats agree with 23 weeks. The same as Roe v. Wade. The two are unlikely to agree on anything at this point and time, hence, it can only be seen.